Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 
The medium of instruction for classroom teaching (in all forms) at HKBU is English, except for those courses that are granted exemption.
Government Funded
September 2025
HK$44,500 (local); HK$175,000 (non-local) i
128
General Information
The Department of Social Work is one of the leading providers of social work training and education in Hong Kong. The four-year Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) Programme aims to develop student knowledge and professional values in social work so that graduates can effectively meet the social service needs of the community in a flexible, realistic, creative and professional yet critical manner.
In the four-year curriculum, students are required to study a total of 128 units, including 4 units for Social Sciences common core, 78 units for Social Work Major courses (including Honours Project and Major electives), 31 units of General Education courses and 15 units of Elective courses. The Social Work Major courses are structured into four areas, namely (a) Human Behaviour and Social Environment, (b) Social Work Theory and Practice, (c) Social Policy, Research and Administration, and (d) Fieldwork. Graduates of our Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) Programme are recognised by most social work professional bodies at the international level. They can register as Registered Social Workers (RSW) with the Social Workers Registration Board in Hong Kong.
Unique Features
Students are required to attend another 100 hours of non-credit bearing pre-placement activities, a growth group, and four levels of integrative tutorials over four years. Following the University’s internationalisation strategy, there are growing opportunities for student exchange, overseas placements, visits from overseas scholars and other related activities to substantiate experiential and academic learning.
Student Learning Experiences
All social work students are required to undertake two fieldwork placements in their Year 3 and Year 4 study. Each supervised fieldwork placement is of 400 hours.
All students are given an opportunity to consider applying for pursuing an exchange programme either in Year 2 or Year 3 study. Students may be able to finish the programme within four years if they pursue the exchange programme in Semester 2 of Year II study and follow through the study plan provided. If it lasts for two semesters, the eligible ones will need to finish the whole Programme in five years.
Career Opportunities
Graduates holding a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) degree are qualified to apply as Registered Social Workers (RSW) in Hong Kong according to the Social Workers Registration Ordinance 1997. They are eligible to be employed as Assistant Social Work Officers in the Social Welfare Department or non-governmental organisations in Hong Kong.
Remark:
We adopt a holistic approach in selecting applicants on individual merits. Applicants are required to meet the University entrance requirements, English Language requirements and Programme entrance requirements (if any).
Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma Final Year Students/ Holders
AD/ HD holders or final year students may apply for Year 1 or Year 3 entry.
Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma Non-final Year Students
Non-final year students studying AD/ HD programmes at a higher education institution recognised by the University are eligible to apply for Year 1 entry only. These applicants are required to fulfill the Entrance Requirements for HKDSE or equivalent qualifications.
Transfer Students
Transfer students who are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree or higher degree programmes at a local or non-local university may apply.
Please note that according to the guidelines of the University Grants Committee (UGC) on inter-institutional transfer of students, repeating of UGC-funded undergraduate study across institutions, irrespective of whether there is a change of programme or discipline, is generally discouraged unless under very exceptional circumstances.
General Entrance Requirements
For Applicants with HKDSE result, please refer to HKDSE.
For Applicants with other International Qualifications, please refer to International Qualifications.
English Language Requirements
The following public examination results are recognised as meeting the English Language requirements stipulated by the University:
| Proficiency Tests | Minimum Requirements |
| TOEFL | Internet-based test (iBT) - Score: 79; or Paper-based test (PBT) - Score: 550 |
| IELTS Academic | Overall Band: 6.0 |
| SAT | Minimum score of 550 in both Critical Reading and Writing with a sub-score of 8 or above in Essay in old SAT; or Minimum score of 590 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing in new SAT |
| ACT | Minimum score of 23 in both ACT English and Reading |
| AP | Score 4 or above in AP English Language and Composition/ AP English Literature and Composition |
| GCE O-Level/ GCSE English/ English Language/ English Literature | Grade C/ Grade 4 |
| IGCSE First Language English | Grade C/ Grade 4 |
| IGCSE English as a Second Language | Grade B/ Grade 5 |
| GCE AS or A-Level English | Grade E |
| HKDSE English Language | Level 3 |
| HKALE Use of English | Grade E |
| IB |
Grade 4 in: OR Grade 5 in: |
| Others | Other English language qualifications deemed acceptable by the University |